Roll On: Sunshine Blogger Award

Roll On: Sunshine Blogger Award

Feb 28, 2017

28/02/2017

But first, Jensen Ackles // Dean Winchester is so damn annoying. He is absolutely breath-taking.

Appreciating that ridiculous pout he always do when he is about to shoot someone
Source

I have been fairly too excited to write this out. First of all, because Ally has been so kind to award me this and that itself is such an honour. Thanks, Ally! Secondly, Ally's questions are exciting! Ally's blog filled with beautiful and refreshing poems, short stories and even haiku. Go check them out. By the way, sorry for not writing this sooner. I was keen on finishing the week "A Post A Day - 7 Days Topics To Go" before posting anything else.

Click the picture

First thing first, Sunshine Blogger Award is an award given to those who are inspiring and brings rays of beaming sunshine into your life. You can award this to anyone. It doesn't even have to be a blogger. There are some few rules as well.

• Thank the person(s) who nominated you in a blog post and link back to their blog
• Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you
• Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions
• List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo on your post and/or on your blog

Ok, the most awaited moment. Answering Ally's questions. Yay!

1. Will you be volunteering for any Mars expedition program?

Of course! I'm not sure if I will ever be fit enough but if I got the chance, I will freaking go for it. Maybe plant some potatoes like Matt Damon does. Eheh.

2. Are you an adventurous person?

I consider myself somewhat adventurous. Walid isn't so keen to just let her daughter wanders around so if he say no, I am not going to be adventurous and disobey him. Walid has taken us to lots of places around Malaysia so I become somewhat reluctant when my friend have asked me to go somewhere with them when I have been there. I'm quite sure they thought that I'm such a dork and boring person. It is fun to be spontaneous and I even have my fair share of being spontaneous with them but once they are like that and want to go for Bukit Tinggi. I seriously not being that excited for Bukit Tinggi (thus declining their offer) simply because I thought being home and do nothing was far exciting than a day trip to Bukit Tinggi. I am so lame.

3. Are you interested in travelling around the world?

Yes I do. If I got the chance, I would love to have a good partner in crime and travel the whole world. Europe would be a great choice for backpacking kind of long adventures but if it's going to be a short one, I would choose Japan first.

4. On the scale, 1 – 10, how high is your curiosity level?

Solid 5. Something wasn't going to be much important if you're being too curious about. Some things actually work better if you didn't be too curious and has to know everything. So, 5 is like the best curiosity level for me. I will choose either I have to or not to be curious.

5. How do you deal with disappointment?

I write a whole essay about how I deal with things to regret over which suited this questions. I try not to allow myself to be too disappointed. I will learn my mistakes and agree I do that mistakes but I choose not to disappoint over it. I believe in not being disappointed because I want Him to know I trust Him and that He can never do any wrong choice in deciding what will happen to me. What important is what do I do next?

6. Do you think you are the patience type?

I'm fairly patient but for the right reason. I am seen to be easily ticked off with my little sister's behaviours but actually, I want to discipline them. I am not going to let people trample over me for the sake of being patience as well. 

7. Are you the one who usually wait for others or others wait for you?

I aspire to be the one who waits for others. I hate people waiting for me because I don't want to waste other people time and effort.

8. Do you have your own favourite stars (in the sky)?

How about every one of it? Stars are beautiful. It can be the only one in the sky and still such a jewel. It can be scattered messily all over the sky and still absolutely just gems.

9. Have you ever feel that you are doing something but you think that it is a waste of time?

I do. Sometime I even thought blogging is a waste of time. But I'll reason it out each time I feel such way and I will stop doing it if it truly does a waste of time.

10. What do you think will happen in the year 2100?

I'm not that sure and I am the kind of girl who just rolls with whatever. But there better be some flying cars and please don't be that dull place those science fiction movies always portrayed.

11.Do you have something that you know it is old and worn but does not want to replace it?

I don't. If it truly worn out, I would throw it. I never have anything I particularly attached to except for my late mother's bracelet. We agree to never sell it. Does gold get worn out?


Thank Ally's, answering this question itself has been a great journey.

So, it's time for me to award 11 bloggers for this post.

Here are the awesome 11!

1. AllyLMare // Write Ally! Write!
2. Alia Azmi // Lya Amie
3. Flavnesz // Chapters
4. Erin Azmir // ERIN AZMIR
5. Jieha Nasir // Funista Life
6. Zety // S P I T O U T K A T A
7. Syazwani Izzati // Syazwani14Cats
8. Nurul Rasya // Nurul Rasya NR-I bare my soul to you
9. Faten Banana // Between The Lines
10. Eyqa Zq // Hundred Pages of You & Me
11. Anwar Hadi // Whatever You Say I Am

I am not looking for traffic but I really really want to see someone like Anwar Hadi answering my questions. Anwar Hadi, if you read this, I didn't even that interested to read your books but there is this event at UKM that allow us to borrow books and I found your book. I was like "Oh he has a book, it is free to borrow so why not". I love it. You are an interesting person. You don't have to link me back. Nonetheless, he does fit my idea of Sunshine Blogger.

My questions:

1. Introduce yourself as if you really want me to know you and you know I wouldn't judge even if you say your secret crush is Hitler

OR

Just introduce yourself in five words.

2. If you never have to work and never have to worry about money anymore, what will you do?

3. What is the craziest thing you have ever done?


4. Favourite movie of all time and why so?

5. Share with me your quirky-est nickname and how did you get that?

6. What is your greatest weakness?

7. What is your greatest strength?

8. What is your best childhood memory?

9. If you can only keep five possessions, what would that be?

10. What is the biggest character turn-off for you?

11. If you could have any superpower, what power would it be and why? - it must be skills, not something like time-travelling or immortality.


I put so much work researching the good questions. Have fun!

Roll On: Why I Want My Own Domain.

Roll On: Why I Want My Own Domain.

Feb 26, 2017

26/02/2017

I'm crushing over Edgar Allan Poe awesome works and today is the last day for my "A Post A Day - 7 Days Topics To Go". Yay! I'am going to do a post to wrap things up tomorrow- ie: what I've posted and what I've cooked. Or maybe the day after. We shall see.

The bitchface game is strong with this one
Source

So, there isn't really any cons, on buying yourself a domain, especially for a small time blogger like me - except for the part on paying it.

When you got yourself a domain, apart from the disappearance of .blogspot on your link, well, that's pretty much it. Some bloggers would changed to WordPress and that's a bit of an issue - like to republish old posts and losing all comments. Since I would still be using Blogger to host my blog (I loved this blog too much and I really don't want to learn to use other web host thingy), there is nothing else more to it. I'm not sure if I would still be getting the email thing. You know, when instead using Yahoo mail or Gmail, you can have an email based on your website domain. Like most official companies does.

Apart from the obvious coolness of that email stuff, there are few reasons, getting a domain is a good thing.


1. Cool 

I should stop use cool as a reason. I am 24 not 14. Lit? Ok. But yeah, it is a good enough reason.


2. Branding effort

Having your own domain is a good branding effort. I'd trust the blog's owner to really be serious on their blogging effort if they have their own domain. Not to mention, no one will have that domain. It is exclusively yours. Sound professional huh?


3. Trustworthy and reliable

Particularly for those who want to generate income or generally having a business affiliated with the website. People keen to trust you more since only legit people can have their own domain name. Even your opinions and reviews would seems from a good mental health kind of person and thus can be taken seriously


4. Sense of responsibility

It will urge you to improve yourself to become better in blogging particularly because you actually spend money. Although a mere RM40 something per year, but folks, money there, money!

That's it hah! It's not much but it really make me want to get one. As you can see. it really isn't much different on getting one or not. I think if you get the whole web host package, it is said to be less spammed since Blogger apparently have a reputataion of being full of spammers. I have only been spam once. Maybe because I am not that famous.

Roll On: Some Awesome Free E-book

Roll On: Some Awesome Free E-book

Feb 25, 2017

25/02/2017

I always feel gloomy and so not motivated when I'm having my period, like now, so let's just get straight to the point.

gloomyyyy

Geez, do I have accidentally chose an easy topic for today since I am super lazy. At my worst, I would be so bored but I can't even bring myself to watch any movies since I am that lazy to focus on anything. I'd scrolled 9gag and skipped the ones with long words.

But alas, today, I want to share something that made me excited and motivated - Zen life. Well, used too, not like now.

It's not like I'm being a Buddhist okay, it is just that some of the principles are great and it actually in tally with Muslim teachings. It's good to see from other perspective and notice the similarities.

I have these on my board at UKM and it has been so refreshing to read it again and again
Source

I only stumbled upon this zen stuff when I accidentally read a blog called Zen Habits by Leo Babauta. It is so inspiring seeing how by setting his life into the right perspective has led him to pay all of him loans and generally having the best and satisfying life. He published two free e-books that I thought you all should read. I try to read few self-help books and went totally hopeless because I got bored damn easy. This book is light and quite short, so it suits me. It also quite interesting.

The first book called The Litle Book of Contentment. This book is rather unique as Leo asked those who read this book to read it in one sitting and with mindfulness on to change your bad habits. 

The second book called The One Skill which I print it! I read The Art of Letting Go via my smartphone and it was so not satisfying so once I knew about this new book, I quickly print it. 

The last e-book I want to share is a poetry ebook which I talked before as one of the means to improve my writing. I simply read a few of the poems and quickly fall in love. It is written by a blogger named Ally Mare and the book is called It's All About You. 

Click on the title to download the book.

kbai.

Roll On: My Ways To Write Better

Roll On: My Ways To Write Better

Feb 24, 2017

24/02/2017

I may not be somewhat good in writing but you should see how much I have improved and that is the basis of this entry.

500 words constriction so let's go!

     Dean killed Hitler so all those grammar Nazis, beware.
Source

1. Make words constriction.

Actually, having words constriction is also a good way to improve your writing. It helps me to focus on important things and makes me try to explain in concise vocabulary.

2. Use of Grammarly

I've tried some apps to check my spellings and grammar errors and Grammarly has worked out so good. It's now my go-to since it allows online checking. Yeah, it checks while we write, it's magic.

I've shared about Grammarly in My Blogging Tricks

3. Use bold and italic option wisely.

When I write there are certain words I need to emphasise properly so that the readers gets the vibes that I want to deliver. I would use the bold and italic option for that - ie bold statement has to be bold lah kan. Use ctrl+i to italicise and ctrl+b to bold so that you can write faster.

4. Never mix with other languages.

I used to be hard on myself that strictly no Bahasa is allowed at all. It's actually not a good thing to mix. However, I still do it because it kinda feels more like me. But only a little bit like for example at #2 where I use the word lah kan because I liked how it is all in English and that there is this one word in Bahasa like, is this some cool words or anything?  However, NEVER does it until the reader become lost. I saw some blogger write one sentence in English and the next sentence in Bahasa like some sort of alternating games. Worse, alternating paragraph. 

5. Read more and some more.

Although I am writing in English, Bahasa books would also benefit me. I love noticing the writing style and how the writer explained a particular moment. Reading helps to understand how we can explain stuff and adds up vocabulary. It triggers you to think and at the same time inspire.

6. Blog more and some more.

Having a blog is also a meant for me to write better. Practice makes perfect, right? Publishing my works has given me some sense of accomplishment and kept me want to write more. Since I have lots on my mind, I write some variable topics and that has led me to learn many more new vocabulary and also challenge me to inquire new things. Not only that, I tend to read my posts for a few times and it allows me to assess what I have done wrong or which part I can do better.

7. Poems

Honestly speaking, trying to channel emotions into poetry has also help me write better. Poetry is like the beautiful scenery at sunset but in words. Now, I can't have everyone write poems now do I. Just read some. I know a blogger who recently published a free poetry ebook if you want to try. Or you can simply read the lyrics to the songs that you like. Or you can try read my poems. 

(530 words)

Roll On: My Bad Habits

Roll On: My Bad Habits

Feb 23, 2017

Again, I read this somewhere but I can't recall where. Mehh. As I am listing the topic for "A Post A Day - 7 Days Topic To Go" I thought this would be interesting.

I'm a bit on schedule so this is going to be a short one (konon).

Supernatural is not a bad habit
Source

1. Sugar

It wasn't like I must have all those dessert. It is just that I love sugary drinks. I'll have coffee in the morning, some chilled sweet drinks accompanying lunch, some hot drink to chill in the afternoon and some more tea at night. I just must have them all.

2. Picking pimples

It's a disease. Go Google it.

3. Buying stuffs

I always thought we kinda need that so we must have and don't get me start on food because I don't care spending on food at all! I would feel so damn guilty because the money could have been put into better use. Just fyi, I am now on spending fasting for a week and I am already planning to go to this cute waffle shop the very next Monday.

4. Hating exercise

It is now had become a habit for me to always excuse all my superior plans to get me jogging in the morning. I was supposed to be jogging this morning, but alas, I slept it off.

Ok, That's all. I'm boiling the fishes for laksa and as according to my cooking plan for the whole week , I AM STILL ON TRACK

#celebratinglittlevictories

Roll On: My Blogging Tricks

Roll On: My Blogging Tricks

Feb 22, 2017

22/02/2017

I am still on track on my "A Post A Day - 7 Days Topics To Go".

This time, I want to share some blogging related stuff that I do which I deemed so very important. There are 10 tricks altogether and since I have 500 words constriction, let's get this started.

Source

About me Page

I learned this somewhere (I can't recall the blog) and quickly did one HERE. It also stated to put a good whole body shot. It helps to build credibility and branding as well. Beforehand, I read some examples from Erin Azmir, S P I T O U T K A T A and Atheera Dayana to help me write one. Even for those who want to remain anonymous, it's good for the reader to understand the kind of personality behind your writing. 

Search box

While in UKM, we have this seminar on publishing a good website organised by Pharmaline (our yearly published faculty magazine). One of the advice given that stuck on my mind since that is kinda the only one that I didn't have on my blog is a Search box. Over time I also learned how difficult it is when I want to find specific post but forgot the title since the blog didn't have a Search box. 

Blog's Archive and Sitemap

I think we can make Sitemap optional but a Blog's Archive is a big must have. Same reason with having a Search Box as it help to navigate better and it is always nice to be able to assess how frequent the blog is updated and how long have you been blogging as well as, if you use the hierarchy's type, the kind of topic your write all on one simple widget.

Multiple Account on Major Websites

This is kinda because I hate when I comment somewhere and it has that weird icon instead of my face. I am totally in love with myself. So I have a Disqus, WordPress (yes, I don't have a WordPresss blog pon) and even Bloglovin account. Since I am riding full on Google+, I can smoothly comment on those Google+ commenting system. It also helps you to easily find more interesting blogs to blog walk.

Some Easy Way to Leave Track

You must understand that not everyone would enjoy your blog and sometimes were just doing quick visits only, so you can't expect to always leave a comment as a meant on leaving tracks. Not to mention, it is annoying when people comment out of context. With that, have a chatbox or those Contact Form widget

Google Analytic

Those Stats on Blogger is utter bullshit because it will always track your own pageviews no matter how many times you tick that "Don't track my pageviews" box and they lack lots of cool assessment that you can achieve by using Google Analytic. It is free so don't worry. 

Ping service

Why? For the traffic of course! I'm using babap.net since it is Malaysian based. If you know more ping services based in Malaysia, DO SHARE. Funnily, since I am always late at knowing what is hot in Malaysia, this babap.net widget actually helps.

Grammarly

Since I am writing in English and hate to recheck, I have Grammarly to help me. You can have it synced with your browser so everything you type on your browser will be automatically checked by Grammarly. As I am using the free version, it checked any misspelt words and simple grammar errors only but it is more than enough. It even corrects my double spacing.

That is also how I counted the words on my blog.

SimpleNote and ShareIt

Both of these applications can be found in Google Play store and also can be downloaded into your laptops. They help me to synced things in my smartphone into my laptop. Since I always have my smartphone everywhere, I would write my poems and even parts of my entry into SimpleNote and it would be automatically synced into my laptops. Next, just copy and paste! ShareIt is used so that I can easily transfer the pictures and file from my smartphone into my laptop. I hate those USB cables and my Bluetooth connection was damn slow.


Tags

It is also good if you have tags for your posts. Categorised it especially if you write lots of random stuff. That way when anyone went into your blog they can scroll through the tags section and just click on tags that seem to interest them.


That is all folks!

What's your best trick up on that sleeve?

(776 words, *insert awkward laugh here*)

Roll On: About Domain Name and Web Hosting Service

Roll On: About Domain Name and Web Hosting Service

Feb 21, 2017

21/02/2017

This is me studying new things because I was thinking that maybe I need my own domain but at the same time "Do I actually need it?" and then I was like; What is it anyway? 

By the way, I study about pills, not this stuff so if I delivered any wrong information do point it out.

When I was in matriculation, I learned how to publish the website by this coding. I forgot it all. IT WAS HARD but fun.

What is a domain name?

In the blogging world, a domain name is the part of a website URL that is owned by the website owner. Basically, all those websites that end with .com or .net (there are some more but I can't recall it). For example, facebook.com. No one can use it and make another website name facebook.com. 

My blog URL is afifahaddnan.blogspot.com and as you can see there, instead of just .com it have .blogspot.com. The domain name is afifahaddnan.blogspot because I am using Blogger to make this blog, and there will be no other afifahaddnan.blogspot as long as I am using it. However, I do not own Blogger. I'm simply using their service like how people use Facebook. Blogger thus kinda own this blog domain name. If somehow I offend Blogger, they can simply terminate my blog. However, I can use the name afifahaddnan to be made as a domain name for a new website and get to use afifahaddnan.com while afifahaddnan.blogspot.com can still coexist.

Now, where to get a domain name?

You can't like, get it, the right term is that you have to register it. Companies with web hosting service or Internet hosting service provider or also known as domain registrar can register it for you. Like your identity card number which is unique to you, a domain name also works such way. These companies registers that name for you to an organisation named ICANN which then you have to renew it annually

Basically, after some complicated readings, this company would also allow your website to be online. I think this is more on those websites made from scratch. Since the Internet isn't really a solid place like you buying a house, you need this company with servers and stuff to allow you to have your own space on the Internet. There are more to than just making make a website available on the Internet but if you are so interested, you can read it HERE. I don't really have to read that now. 

But, like for now, my web hosting server is Blogger itself. You see now how my blog is somewhat their's?

What bloggers usually does is that they would buy/register the domain name and then do THIS  so that instead of being .blogspot.com it will be just .com.

By doing so, we just pay the service to register our own domain name while still have Blogger to host the blog. However, it was found that Wordpress is the main choice for hosting the blog once using a personally owned domain name. That's is why some bloggers changed to Wordpress once having their own domain name.

A good example of Malaysian based company for this service is NetKL Hosting while internationally GoDaddy is kinda the big hit.

Since I have make a pledge not to write more than 500 words (this in nearing 550 words already) I'd share the reasons why I want a domain name in other entry, like next week.

Buh-bye.

Roll On: A Post A Day - 7 Days Topic To Go!

Roll On: A Post A Day - 7 Days Topic To Go!

Feb 20, 2017

Apekejadahnya tajuk panjang nau.

Assalammualaikum and good evening!

I was planning to also have a week of constant updating the blog - I mean, one post per day. If you read my previous post, I also have a week cooking plan as well.

To do this, as in to succesfully do this, I have to list out the topic I'm going to do. Check it out!

I didn't watch this episode yet!
Source

Monday: Lemboy Restaurant review


Tuesday: What is domain and web host


Wednesday: A blogger must have (because I want to make sure I have the important things)


Thursday: Bad habits that I want to break


Friday: My tips to write in English better


Saturday: Free ebooks to change your life


Sunday: Why we need to buy our own domain name?


Wish me the best!


p/s: the domain stuffs is just me wanting to learn new things.

Roll On: Cooking Plan for The Whole Week

Roll On: Cooking Plan for The Whole Week

20/02/2017

So, what's cooking?

It is so so sooooooooooooooooooooo hard to come up with what to cook so I thought I would plan ahead this time. The whole week menu starting from today. I'll be doing what-to-cook for lunch and dinner. Later, maybe I'd upload some pictures sort of tracking how the plan has been working for me.

Source

Monday (20/2/2017)

-Lunch: Fish curry (ikan kembung),fried fish and stir fried kangkung

-Dinner: I'll cook the curry gravy in extra so it can be eaten at dinner and simply fry some more fish

Tuesday (21/2/2017)

-Lunch: Ikan kembung or ikan curut singgang (we actually got free fishes and I didn't know if the ikan kembung would finish so if it does finished, I'll use ikan curut instead), fired fish and stir fried okra.

-Lunch: Same like on Monday, extra singgang gravy and just fry some more fishes. 

Wednesday

-Lunch: Ikan tenggiri (we're still cooking the free fishes we got) masak cuka, fried fish and fresh cucumber.

-Dinner: Fried rice and fried fish.

Thursday

-Lunch: Fried noodles with chicken and cabbages (if there are fishes left, I'll make laksa since the fishes would be too old and no one with ate it anymore)

-Dinner: Fried rice with chicken and beans. 

Friday

-Stuffed cencaru and stir fried beans

-Mee Bandung (my first time actually and I want to use meat)

Saturday

-Lunch: Chicken tomyam (we are going to try the paste that my fried gave to me last Friday)

-Dinner: Lots of tomyam gravy so we can eat bihun tomyam.

Sunday

-Lunch: Paprik (I've done it before but it didn't turn out like a real paprik) with some omelette

-Dinner: Roti telur

If I manage to cook all of this, this would be the first time in quite some time that I cook for the entire week without buying out. Lot's of trying out stuff. I want to try make my own burger with real patty of course. Maybe next week.

I really do felt bored with these recipes but truly, I'm quite blank.

Roll On: What Drives Me To Do Better

Roll On: What Drives Me To Do Better

Feb 16, 2017

16/02/2017

For some unknown reason, these themes won't have dates stamped on the posts. So I aim to write the date before any new entry. I also loved writing deep thought kind of post but it took so much from me - time, thinking process, more time. It does end up being super long. With that, I would also aim to write such post with less than 500 words. Especially if the post would include mainly words.

Another post for my writing challenge!

Click the picture to learn about these cool writing prompts

With all the hardwork I've thrown in this blog, it is actually one of the examples of me being better. 

Yes, I'm not becoming anything famous. It has always been put on hold because I always tend to other things first. But it is still here and I still passionately write because I care about all the work I have given to it for the past six years. I care about how blogging helps me to develop myself towards the better. That is actually the one main reason what keeps me doing better. Because I care about myself so much.

Never thought his campaign would be relevant to my post

At the end of the day, I realize everything I do, the good ones or the bad ones, it would all come back to me. I'll be happy and I'll be the broken ones and that is the fuel that keeps me thinking whatever I do, I should only do it for myself. I should do it in full awareness that I, myself need it. Even when I'm helping others, I keep on thinking to be somewhat best at it because I am not doing it for them, I'm doing it for me. 

One easy way to look at this is because "always becoming better" is something a Muslim must do. However, even with that being the best drive to do better, peoples always look for more reasoning. Lemme tell you that doing better itself helps us become more positive and have a vibrant energy. It is truly addicting because when you become better at something, you would notice how happy it made you.

Most of us may don't want to be better because it is pure work, work, and work. But please, try it once and feel how it can empower you to do more when you know how euphoric the results are and most importantly how it is freaking doable. 

You see, now it become this positive chain reaction. Doing better helps you realize that things you thought you cannot do but finally you have done it and it made you feel happy will then influence you to do more. and more. and more.

That's it. What drive me to do better?

1. Because I love myself
2. Because it is what Muslim must do.
3. Because it made me happier
4. Because being better itself drives me to do better.

But sometimes, you gotta still need to push yourself hard and at those time I'll try to remember this drives because what drives me are also the reason why I have to be better.

(512 words)

Roll On: Kaison Haul

Roll On: Kaison Haul

Feb 12, 2017

This haul was done more than a month ago and I finally pushed myself to write this now. Anyway, I thought I should try to make one since it looks like things to do. Though I am merely buying things that I need. Not to mention the horrible picture quality. Sorryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.

Nonetheless, I was satisfied with the items I've gotten myself and I really do want to share this here.

by Onur Bahçıvancılar

1. A notebook - I kid you not, that's a pomegranate and near the upper left corner was actually a fly. But I didn't like the other cover and was practically almost giving up because I didn't found any notebook that fit my want. I was looking for a medium sized notebook with those yellowish paper with faint lines or no lines at all. This book has all that and I actually do love the quirky cover. It cost only RM8.50 okayyyy. 

Should open the plastic cover first.

2. A bag pack - This one is Nadia's. Do you like the design? I personally hated it and was really against on Nadia buying it. She bought it still and cost a bit over RM30. The patches were kinda cute but it doesn't seem suited with the canvas fabric.

We even took pictures of her wearing it but she still convinced it is good.

3. A tote bag - This is for Nabila. She went to those school that mix sekolah agama with sekolah kebangsaan so she has to bring a small bag for her telekung. Previously, I couldn't care less about the bag she would use but this year, her school bag didn't have a slot for her water bottle and it is a bit small. She got it for free. So we thought we would buy a decent sized and sturdy tote bag for her so that she can put her water bottle and some book as well instead of buying a new school bag. 

It costs us RM17 something

4. Essential oil with sticks - I never tried this kind of scent and since it cost on RM3.90, I thought we should give a try. I've been meaning to have some nice fragrance around the house. I choose jasmine flower and it actually smells a bit like green tea from Sushi King. Later, it was placed in the living room and at night, when I woke up from sleep and wanted to go to the bathroom and since the air conditioner was used, the smells become a bit too strong. I was wide awake by then, I didn't really liked it. I was hoping it to be quite subtle. However, I then realized it would went so well in the toilet. HAHAHAHAHAHA. It really does! Since the toilet is so humid the smell doesn't become so strong.

You could just used fewer sticks if you want it to be subtle but then I just loved a good scent in the toilet

p/s: I cooked mee kari yesterday and went picniking at Lata Ulu Licin. We even brought the portable stove and cooked those Samyang ramen. A really good day really. 

Roll On: A Good To Do List

Roll On: A Good To Do List

Feb 8, 2017

Did you know that an effective to-do-list must have the very first thing in a specific to do in other to have a that to-do to be done? Bhahahahahaha. I'm horrible at explaining this. It menas like you have to expand all the little works included in that one to do list.

For example, I just finished changing my blog templat, again, and now I have choose the template that I want, I just need to do some more edits here and there to have it functioning properly.

Some people might do their to-do list as #1 Finalize editing the blog.

But a better way to do it is like this

1. Make a new about me widget
2. Add new follower widget
3. Add recent post widget
4. Edit social network links
5. Add social network widget on sidebar
6. Add bloglist
7. Add Instagram feeds widget
8. Edit links for each page
9. Add widget from GoingUp and StatCounter
10. Add ping widget from babap.net
11. Add Google+ widget
12. Make 11 posts at homepage

Now you know.

and yes, I need to do all those listed works so if you didn't see all those works done on the blog and somehow it troubles you, just comment anywhere and I'll get to you.

Just FYI, it 4 am and I am seriously considering not sleeping since I'd feel so sleepy to do Subuh. I'll sleep anyway. Angah always woke me up. Heh.

Source

Roll On: A Week In My Life

Roll On: A Week In My Life

Feb 4, 2017

At first, I thought, well, no one would really care about what I do but then I remembered how I actually liked reading these kinds of post. Anyway, it would be a fun reading in about like 10 years to come. 

With that fella, let's get it started!

Just FYI, I'm staying home now, unemployed, waiting for the SPA interview.

and this was supposed to be published last Wednesday, but well.

source

Tuesday (24th January 2017)

It has been raining all day long. Like literally, from the morning until we sleep back at night. I woke up late that day, tidy up the house a bit and was just so lazy. I didn't even cook lunch. We took the car and pick up our sister from school and buy our lunch in a restaurant near our house. Nothing much happen.  Rains make a very dull day. Later in the evening, when the rain tone down a bit, we went out. I was seriously thinking it's going to stop but only to have more drizzles. Thank God, it was just drizzling or else I would be soaking wet since we were using the bike. I want to have potato wedges for dinner and my sister wanted a bread pudding. The pudding was a success complete with the custard sauce. Since it seems it would be raining for some time, we hung the clothes all around the house. It looked like a hippies house. Apart from that, I was also trying new traffic monitoring services for my blog which is StatCounter and Going Up. We'll see how it goes. I still use Google Analytics though.

It was purposely made to be burnt a little since I like to have it to be crispy on the outside.

Wednesday (25th January 2017)

True to my expectation, it does rain. Since I have hung the shirt the night before, it have dried and my morning filled with doing the laundry and folding clothes. Alhamdulillah, it stops for awhile which allow me to ride my bike to buy some groceries for lunch. I hate driving. I bought some pomfret (ikan bawal) and was going to roast it. Although the meat becomes marvelously succulent, we agree that we didn't like it not having the crispiness out from deep fried. I also buy some elastic band since some of our pants has become loose and went for some sewing frenzy as I dug some of the kids torn pants and sew it as well. I watch Into The Wild during folding clothes and sewing things. It was supposed to be the must watch movies before turning 30. It is about this guy going for a road trip without any money for two years! The finale of his trip is living in the utter wild of Alaska with wild plants and hunting for food. It is such a good movie! Maybe I would do a review.

Source

In the evening, I hung out with my friends and we choose to went for Kopee Paste cafe since they have these dishes promotion for only RM5. It was to celebrate their two years anniversary. We also went for Teluk Batik. I'm not sure why we ended up there but we get some photos though. Nadia also went out with her friend and agreed to get some Chocolate Brulee cake that Secret Recipe was having a promotion on. Unfortunately, the cake has run out but we still get some Chocolate Indulgence instead. For dinner, I made those cheesy sauce to be eaten with the rest of the potato wedges. It was really a good day. Food is bae~

Thursday (26th January 2017)

We went to Jitra that day as we are going to pickup Muslim from school. We start at 7 am and reach there around 11 am. We have our breakfast at this restaurant before Changkat Jering's toll and lunch somewhere in Changkat Jering as well. We safely reach home around 4.30 pm. I drove! I have this paranoid of driving after going into a terrible accident and this is actually a very big achievement for me. I drove for about two hours and even though I was a bit at the edge, it was still a very pleasant experience. I don't even remember about the car accident. It didn't rain so much, only a bit drizzles two or three times but ended up quickly. Only when we reached Kampung Acheh that it starts to rain heavily but I didn't drive at that time. Sungai Perak water level up and spill over the mangrove forest nearby. It was such a sight. Funnily, it didn't rain nearing Sitiawan and there weren't any puddles so it must be not raining the whole day here. It is just a few kilometers apart!

At night, since Kopee Paste was still having the RM5 promotion, we have our dinner there. Nabila was in love with their chicken chop and was more in love with the fish and chips. The sloppy joe was good but a bit too plain.

Source

Friday (27th January 2017) 

Today, Muslim asked for tom yam. Actually, I asked him because thinking on what to cook is damn annoying so every once in a while I'll ask my sisters what they want instead. I'll even made them decide when they simply respond to me with an "I don't really care". Since the other day, my friend was telling me that this Thailand tom yam paste that had been recently stock up in most of the market near us was actually good, I thought now is the perfect time to try it. I've seen it before and never buys it since it always in this big container. It wasn't really that good though. I put double the paste than the Adabi ones that I usually use. Maybe I was doing something wrong.

The kind of packages I always found. It's just recently I notice the start to sell it in smaller container.

Later in the afternoon, we went to Ayer Tawar since we need to buy a new car battery. Not only that, something is just wrong with Nadia's car and Walid suggest to have the car battery charged at the shop as well. Turns out it would took sometime for it to be fully charged (utter noob I am really) and the auntie there insist her to bring the car as she suspect it wasn't the battery at fault. Something about an autonator or alternator. The Chinese slang is strong with this one. So Nadia have it charged for a while and will ask Walid opinion and come back on Sunday if Walid agrees.

It was about 20 minutes before Asar when we were back home and I took the chance to teach Muslim on how to ride the bike. It is the one using clutch so we have to teach him from scratch. Nadia has thought him yesterday on the basic so I just sat on the backseat and make sure he could change the gear smoothly and have him comfortable on how the bike feels. He is a quick learner. Probably because he knew how to ride the normal ones already or just because he is a quick learner. Anyway, he just want to be able to ride the bike to go to surau and that is why I took that 20 minutes ASAP. It was frustrating seeing how much of a quick learner he is. I took lots of attempts to even pass gear one and not to mention how many long rides to have me familiar with the change of gear. Walid was honest to God shocked to notice that I have now know how to ride that thing.

Saturday (28th January 2017)

My relatives are coming from Puchong; two of my aunts, four of my cousins inwhich one of them is this cute little boy which is just so damn cute and another three kids which are my cousin children. My cousin also have a baby and she is just a beauty but was so small that I am still  so scared to hold her. But I manage to do it though so yay! The house were packed but everyone still choose to gather around in the living room and the kitchen. We were just that close.

I spend the morning managing all the laundry since it's raining for a few days now but we manage not to have any stacked laundry since yesterday and today wasn't having much rain. I went to buy groceries early and buy lots of fishes since they are going to have their lunch at our place. I made a curry and was honestly nervous since Mak Ngah kinda holds the gold standard of cooking in my family. Seriously, even my late Mak also learn to cook good curry from her since Mak wasn't accustomed to curry like Walid is. Mak Ngah told that my curry was good. Yeahhhhhhhhh.

Since everyone were a bit tired, most of us didn't do anything that night but not for me and two of my cousins. We love to hung out together so I asked if they wanted to go for the weekly night market here and this bundle shop which is having RM1 sale on kids clothes. We went together and I manage to get myself a beautiful wallet costing for only RM10! I think the shopkeeper want to finish up their stock and the purse that actually made me interested at the first place is the last one of such pattern. I buy some fruits and my cousins bought this cute turban for her baby. She has that weird habit for those kind of things for her baby. The food stalls close rather early so we went into Giant instead and bought some food for home. Later we went to the bundle shop and get some daily clothing for the kids. My cousin even found this cute dress for her baby and yes, it's only RM1.

sho cute!

Sunday (29th January 2017)

Customarily, my relatives first priority upon coming to our house is to visit Tok Long. Tok Long is an uncanny resemblance of my late grandfather from his dark skin to his tall figure. He is so tall. We decided to cook lunch and eat it at their homes. Walid wants Tok Long to have some jenahak and stuff. Angah  is the one who took them to the market as I need to go to the bank. Funnily, she forget that the usual shop we went, the one who befriended our family, has moved since he needed more space. Only after several hard look from Mak Ngah (since she always buy fishes from him as well when she visits us so she kinda now has know that this is the wrong shop) and Angah confusion on who the heck is this guy (there is actually a new guy) that Angah finally remember. That new guy have finished cleaning the guts so Mak Ngah just pay and buy the rest of the fishes she wants from the actual shop. If you ever comes to Manjung and want fresh fishes, there are some good spots and Walid always prefers this one, near the drainage system at Kampung Permatang.

We, by we I mean not including me, finished cooking at 12 pm and reached Tok Long house at 2 pm. A bit off schedule but it was good timing since my second cousin was having his fiancee over. He is such a great guy. I'm not sure how it happens but he took care of Tok Long since forever now. He practically sacrifice himself and his youth to take care of his grandfather and even with that, every time we ask him about how Tok Long has been doing, he always answer with a sincere smile. Her fiancee is so so so lucky. She was donning those tudung ustazah with an oversize jubah. I think ke has hit jackpot as well.

We headed home at 4 pm and went to Econsave first. One thing about Mak Ngah is that she loved to look around the market here and check out the price since she has her own stall so she was always extra alert on these kind of things. Sometime she'd buy some supplies from here. After our shopping, she decided to come back to Econsave before she heads home to get her some supplies.

In the meantime they were searching what to cook for dinner, I took Muslim on biscuits and snacks section and have him took some. He told me how his food stock finished this one time and he honest to God called for Walid to come over and buy some instead of buying it himself. I suspect he just don't want to go through the hassle. Walid only come to pick him up since it was nearing his holiday and he just settled with that. Stupid he is but I am a sucker for my my two boys so I just have him took some more  foods when I got the chance.

Monday (30th January 2017)

It was a public holiday and the cooking gas finish up. The regular guy wasn't picking up his phone and we literally call the customer service only to be told somewhere in Ayer Tawar maybe open. It was such a disaster really since we were planning to have a picnic at Teluk Batik. We went to just rolling around in the car searching for any shop that have cooking gas until I actually thought to ask the Whatsapp group filled with pakcik and makcik so surely they know some guys lah kan. True indeed, it settled within the next 15 minutes. The problem has been worried over two hours before. Regardless, we finally reach the beach around 11 am and the kids were playing in the sea while others just hanging around and eats and talk. I got ice-cream on bread as usual and coconut drinks. Good day.

We went home at 2 pm and even though everyone were taking naps, the kids were just so up and about. I'm not sleepy either so I watched Supernatural. It was the episode where Dean killed Hitler. Like literally, Supernatural has Hitler and Dean kills him. It was such a funny episode and even with Lucifer on the loose and Men of Letter London Chapterhouse was such a thread, it's fun to see how laid back this episode is. Watching Supernatural makes me happy.

Later in the evening I went out again with my cousin to Mr. DIY at Giant to find some stuff used for clogged drain. We found it and it cost RM9. I also found this cute moustache stickers that I thought would be great to cover the pen stain on my handphone case. It cost me only RM1.90 and I get five stickers. It didn't cover it that well but still looks good. My cousin get some stuff for the kids to play with. We also went for the night market at Kampung Dato' Seri Kamaruddin to buy some takoyaki but the shop close early as well. That takoyaki is actually quite nice than the other I have tried before. Nonetheless, I got some grilled corn, murtabak and chocolate sri kandus. Later that night we go for a fast food frenzy for dinner and the kids enjoys Trolls movie. The movie was quite nice.

Mak Ngah have rice with the chicken since she just have to have rice.

It cover most of the stain though.

Tuesday (31st January 2017)

My relatives were heading home that day. We, and yes that means not including me, cook and they went home around 11 am and only safely reached their destination at 6 pm since they love to do all kind of pit stops. Nadia's car have some problem so we went to borrow the jumper from Walid's friend but we can't get it started so we can't have it sent to the workshop. We asked Walid's friends to help us with the jumper since Nadia told me that there were some tricks to get the jumper work which is not like the usual ones we use to do. It ended up with Walid's friend fixing it for us. Changing the alternator and stuffs. The car work! 

Car alternator - use to charge the battery
Source

I also went out to buy some groceries which is actually just a reason to buy coffee since we are out of coffee. I took Muslim as well since he want to have his jeans altered. Later after Zuhur I took Natrah out in search for her PBSM uniform. I went to five shops! Two of them close while the others either don't have it in her size or just don't have it in their stock. I also went to this shop that have a cute sling bag that I just love but after I bought it, the zip broke. BOTH OF IT. Alhamdulillah the girl refunded my money. Around 6 pm I was craving pisang goreng and decide to also bought ABC and like usual food made my day. After a few hectic days,we just have instant noodles for dinner. I spend some me time with my blogs at night and it was so calming somehow. I'm such a dork sometime.



That's a wrap! What a week really. Sadly, Nadia and Umi has also went back today as well. Guess, we would just buy our lunch today.

Source